Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Records of the Virginia Commission for the Arts, 1968-2022. [cite specific dates and accession used], State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.

Acquisition Information

Accession 36089, accessioned 6 November 1998.

Accession 37698, accessioned 13 October 2000.

Accession 42160, accessioned 9 September 2005.

Accession 43771, accessioned 30 May 2008.

Accession 44617, accessioned 1 December 2009.

Accession 45445, accessioned 14 March 2011.

Accession 51953, accessioned 29 December 2016.

Accession 53791, accessioned 9 January 2023.

Processing Information

This collection has been processed using minimal standards: the original arrangement has been maintained, the container list is brief and simple, the records have not been refoldered and the fasteners have not been removed.

Historical Information

The Virginia Commission for the Arts and Humanities was established as an agency of state government in 1968 and is mandated to support and stimulate excellence in all the arts, in their full cultural and ethnic diversity, and to make the arts accessible to all Virginians. Toward this end, it provides financial assistance for arts activities and information/advisory services to artists, arts organizations, and others interested in the arts. The Commission’s funds come from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. The name of the agency was changed to the Virginia Commission for the Arts (Record Group 152) in 1979.

The agency is guided by thirteen commissioners appointed to five year terms by the Governor and confirmed by the General Assembly. At least one commissioner is appointed from each congressional district. The Commission employs a staff to implement programs and policies and is also assisted by several advisory panels.

Major issues of interest to the commission include artistic quality, access to the arts, cultural diversity, assistance to individual artists, and development of arts organizations. Six Regional Advisory Panels, the Arts Education Advisory Panel, the Touring Advisory Panel, and Artist Fellowship Panels review and evaluate applications for grant funds with these major issues in mind. These grant funds go toward general operating support, technical assistance, local government challenge, touring assistance, artist fellowships, writers programs, residency programs, teacher assistance programs, and arts curriculum development. In addition to grants, the commission also provides information and advisory services.

Scope and Content

Records of the Virginia Commission for the Arts include correspondence, subject files, grants lists, and minutes that document the planning, direction, and implementation of agency programs and are evidence of actions and policy decisions. Also includes board books/packets given to board members each board meeting. Note that there is some duplication between accessions.

Accession 37698, Delmarva Folklife Project records, 1997-1999, inncludes the following reports: Final report for Fieldwork Year 1: October 1997-September 1998; Final Report for Fieldwork Year 2: November 1998-October 1999; Latino Cultural Survey, 1998-1999; and Hispanic Arts and Narratives, Fieldwork, January-July 1999.

Accession 45445: Minds Wide Open Open Program files, 2010, document the Women in the Arts program activities sponsored by the Minds Wide Open Program of the Virginia Commission for the Arts. This statewide celebration included special public programs and events including plays, choreography, compositions, and exhibitions of painting, films, and photography, etc., that were held across the Commonwealth to honor the contributions of women in the arts. Records include the final report of the program and several binders of news releases, news clippings, photographs, brochures and programs related to Women in the Arts events.

Accession 51953 includes Board packets, 1968-1971, 1973-1974, 1990-1995 Jan, 1997-2015; Publications and Tour Directories, 1992-2014; Press releases and press clippings, 1984-1992; and Correspondence and subject files, 1970-2014, including information on bylaws and policy, board committees, strategic planning, Arts in Virginia study, Women’s Project, Minds Wide Open Program, Virginians for the Arts, Writers in Virginia Program, Governor’s Arts Awards, Go Fish Project, Heritage Awards, and National Endowment for the Arts partnership agreements.

Accession 53791 (2.5 cu. ft.) includes Board books/packets, 2014-2022; Minutes, 1978-2000; Awards files, 2000-2009.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series: